Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the 'Ace of Spades.' To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't 'playing with a full deck.'

Nose out of joint This phrase has been around a long time. A person whose nose is out of joint is one who is vexed because he has been supplanted in another’s affections. The earliest version of the saying that has been found goes back to 1895, when, up on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the expression was “having your nose broke.” The explanation runs: “The youngest child of a family is said to have its nose broke if another is born and it is therefore no longer ‘the baby.’” I suppose that having your nose out of joint and having it “broke” come to pretty much the same thing.

I remember in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, Judas refuses to accept the money given to him for disclosing Christ's location. "I don't want your blood money." I really like that movie for the music and acting, but especially love the way the beginning and end are framed by "real" scenes where the actors arrive and leave. Another wonderful Norman Jewison film.

That's a good one! Never would have thought that but totally makes sense.